Architecture and Landscape: Theory, Method and Critical Thinking

In this course several knowledge fields are introduced that are relevant for landscape architectural composition: compositional theory, phenomenology, environmental psychology, and tree architecture. Seminal landscape architectonical objects will be presented and discussed, with the emphasis on the discovery and study of the complex compositional rules of design and the relationship between composition and perception. Also, we will touch upon the relation between people and the natural environment, perception and aesthetics. Thirdly, the role of trees in determining a spatial composition and the perception of space will be highlighted. Crucial is the understanding of the relationship of planting with spaces and objects, with their natural surroundings (habitat) and their evolution in time. Field trips and literature study will provide the material for studying and documenting examples of several species and their arrangements in order to discover their spatial and environmental characteristics.

Plan critique (group work) including an analysis in drawings and words, and critical interpretation with arguments based on the offered knowledge fields.

The theory course is awarded a grade that is a whole or half number between 1.0 and 10.0. Students pass the course with a 6.0 or higher. With a grade below 6.0: students who presented assessable work during the course are allowed to do a repair to change the grade into a ‘pass’. The repair is unsupervised and needs to be completed within two weeks after the end of the course. For students with a grade below 5.0 a repair is not advised, because the chance of success is low.

When the repair is unsuccessful, the student needs to follow the entire course again. In this case we offer students the opportunity to retake the course during the summer period to avoid substantial delay in the study, since the Landscape Architecture track offers all courses of MSc1 and MSc2 only once per year. The student needs to contact the course coordinator in June to start planning for tutoring during the summer break.